Month: June 2026

Protecting India's endangered Asiatic elephants does more than conserve wildlife it also helps safeguard forests that act as major carbon sinks, according to a new scientific study. Researchers found that elephant conservation has contributed to preserving forest carbon stocks, highlighting the close link between biodiversity protection and climate change mitigation. The study, published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa examined the relationship between elephant conservation, the expansion of elephant reserves and carbon storage in India between 1992 and 2025. During this period, India's elephant reserve network expanded from just three reserves covering 18,297 square kilometres to 33 reserves spread across 80,777 square kilometres. While the elephant population increased by only about...

Extreme heat is emerging as one of the biggest threats to economic growth and public health with poor women workers bearing the heaviest burden, according to a new report released by HERA (Climate Resilience for All) during London Climate Action Week. The report, titled Counting the Cost of Heat: The Case for Urgent Solutions for Cities estimates that nearly 740 million women working in the informal sector lose a combined $57 billion in earnings every year because rising temperatures reduce their ability to work safely. In many developing countries, these women earn only a few dollars a day, making the financial losses even more severe for their families. The study examined the impacts of extreme heat in Ahmedabad, Bangkok, Monterrey, and Freetown. Researchers found that heat already r...

Plastic pollution is often measured in tonnes and statistics, but those numbers can feel distant from everyday life. A new article published in The Conversation highlights how installation art is helping people experience plastic waste in a more personal and meaningful way. By transforming discarded plastic into interactive artworks, artists are encouraging communities to rethink waste, recycling and environmental responsibility. According to the article, plastic pollution has become one of the defining environmental challenges of the modern era. Plastic is now found in oceans, rivers, soil, air, homes, and even inside the human body. Although waste often disappears from sight after disposal, it does not disappear from the environment, where it can remain for centuries. The article f...

  The world's mangrove forests are showing encouraging signs of recovery after decades of decline according to a new study led by researchers at Tulane University in the United States. Published in the journal Science, the study analysed four decades of satellite data and found that global mangrove forests are no longer shrinking overall. Researchers say a combination of conservation efforts, restoration projects, and the natural ability of mangroves to regenerate has helped reverse years of losses caused by deforestation, aquaculture expansion, and coastal development. Mangroves are among the planet's most valuable ecosystems. They store large amounts of carbon, protect coastlines from storms, erosion, and rising sea levels, and provide critical habitats for fish and wildlif...

  The Atlantic and Pacific oceans are simultaneously driving some of the world most severe weather extremes with scientists warning that shifting ocean conditions are exposing billions of people to dangerous heatwaves delayed monsoons and worsening climate risks. According to climate experts the warming Atlantic Ocean is intensifying powerful heat domes over Europe and North America, sending temperatures soaring to record levels. At the same time, the Pacific Ocean is witnessing the development of a strengthening El Nino, which is weakening India's southwest monsoon and contributing to one of the country's sharpest rainfall deficits in recent years. These two large scale oceanic changes are influencing weather patterns across continents creating a chain reaction that stretche...

European investigators have uncovered a massive illegal textile waste trafficking operation that saw more than 4,200 tonnes of waste shipped from Italy to Turkey in violation of environmental laws. The investigation, led by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) with support from Italy's Carabinieri and Turkish customs authorities, revealed how textile waste was deliberately mislabelled to avoid costly recycling requirements and environmental regulations. Authorities said the waste mainly contained acrylic fibres, a type of synthetic material that can remain in the environment for up to 200 years and requires specialised recycling. By falsely labelling the shipments, those involved allegedly avoided strict disposal rules while generating illegal profits. The investigation began after ...

While the Yamuna River is widely known for battling severe pollution in Delhi, hundreds of kilometres downstream in Bundelkhand it faces another serious environmental challenge large scale sand extraction. Environmental experts warn that excessive mining of river sand is damaging the river ecosystem and threatening long-term water security in one of India's most drought prone regions. During the dry season large stretches of the Yamuna riverbed become exposed, making it easier for labourers to extract sand. Workers, often using bullock carts collect sand from the riverbed to meet the growing demand of the construction industry. Sand has become one of the most heavily extracted natural resources in India due to rapid urbanisation and infrastructure development. River Ecosystem Under G...

As climate change makes rivers and lakes increasingly unreliable across Africa scientists are turning their attention underground. Researchers are mapping the continent's vast groundwater reserves to help countries secure drinking water, support agriculture and strengthen resilience against droughts in a warming climate. Africa is estimated to sit atop around 0.66 million cubic kilometres of groundwater, nearly 20 times the amount of freshwater stored in all of the continent's lakes combined. Despite this enormous resource, around 400 million people in Africa still lack access to basic drinking water services highlighting the need for better management of underground water supplies. Digital Mapping to Identify Safe and Sustainable Groundwater Sources A team of hydrogeologists and ...